Replies

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

Placing this here for good reason - see end. David Beasley, the head of the United Nations World Food Programme, said Ukraine grows enough food to feed 400 million people around the planet — until Russia invaded the country, that is. Beasley further said “(There) is $430 trillion worth of wealth around the world today. There’s no reason a single child should be dying from hunger, much less going to bed hungry.”
OBSERVATION - Control food, control people. GGR has to confiscate this ‘wealth’ right? (sarc)
_____________________________

Economy -

Economists are noting that the dollar is at risk losing its status as the reserve currency. After peaking at 73% of all currency transactions in 2001, the dollar has been in constant decline. The one thing that is preventing a collapse in the dollar is that no other currency is set to capture the world’s reserve currency title. Sanction war with Russia has caused other nations to utilize other currencies instead of the dollar to get around sanctions. China has been making moves to harm the dollar as well. It is in active talks with Saudi Arabia to price some of its oil purchases in yuan.

______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

I have to post this again, just because of the magnitude of it. Biden’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing for a massive influx of up to 500,000 illegal immigrants monthly once the administration lifts the pandemic-era asylum limits, which is expected to take place on May 23.
DHS officials told reporters on Tuesday that the department is anticipating a worst-case scenario of 12,000 to 18,000 illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border every day, totaling up to 540,000 monthly.
OBSERVATION - Half a million per month - that’s 6 million for a year. All with hungry mouths, plethora of diseases and too much invested in spreading crime and drug trafficking.

Gov. Greg Abbott late Friday signed his fourth memorandum of understanding in three days with another Mexican governor as part of his commitment to secure Texas’ shared border with Mexico. Abbott met Friday with Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca in Weslaco, Texas. They signed a memorandum of understanding designed to prevent illegal immigration from Mexico to Texas and improve the flow of commercial traffic across the international bridge.
______________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

On Saturday night, Antifa and other far-left militants in Portland gathered for a vigil held for Patrick Lyoya, a black man who was fatally shot by a Grand Rapids officer earlier this month, and caused damage across the northern part of the city to small businesses as well as a Portland Police Bureau precinct. In posts made to Twitter, far-left activists called for “revenge” attacks and “solidarity action” against the police. On April 4, Lyoya was fatally shot in the head by a Grand Rapids, Michigan, police officer after he refused to comply with the cop’s commands, continually struggled against his arrest, and kept placing his hand on the officer’s taser gun.

OBSERVATION - this looks like an attempt to rally the leftists into another round of violence. Granted, it doesn’t take much for the BLM/Antifa elements in Portland to get up and burn something. Again - the disturbing trend to call for potentially lethal response.
___________________________________

POLITICAL FRONT -

Pressure building to have Kalifornia senator Feinstein forced from office due to all her marbles not there.

_____________________________________

Domestic Terror -

Pennsylvania authorities are asking the public for information regarding a device containing nuclear material used in construction.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection said the device, a portable nuclear gauge, is used in construction to “evaluate the properties of building and road-bed materials,” a press release read. But if the device is “damaged,” people in the vicinity could be exposed to harmful radiation.

OBSERVATION - The radioactive material will not create a nuclear bomb, but could be used for a small ‘dirty’ bomb. However, no evidence of a potential diversion for terror use yet.
_____________________________________

North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

__________________________________

Russia -

WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas starting - Ukraine still stands now in the second month of the war.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia has hard pivoted to a readjustment of combat forces to sieze the Dombas region of eastern Ukraine. Russia is close to completing redeployment of forces and is expected this new offensive soon.

Withdrawing Russian forces have left abundant evidence of mass murder of civilians, rape of women and children and widewpread looting.

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********
Images out yesterday confirm the missile strike on the “Moskov”. In the images, the ship is listing to port and the damage and the active fire seems to originate in the amidships of the ship where the chimney is located and two of the six AK-630s are located. Two potential openings just above the water line are where some people suggest it is where the two missiles hit it.

Russian Baltic Fleet appears to be ramping up activities. Both Zubr-class LCACs are being loaded with naval infantry vehicles and the Northern Fleet large landing ship Ivan Gren has also entered the Baltic Sea. With most of the landing assets in Black Sea, these assets are likely for intimidating Sweden and Finland.
OBSERVATION - I can’t believe Russia / Putin would be foolish to start another conflict, but then if he is off his rocker, anything is possible. He has been making serious threats against them.

RUMINT -
Some analysts are assessing that the big attack of Russia in Donbas might not happen because the Kremlin beginning to really think and is afraid of possible failure at Donbas. One aspect is the weather because of heavy rain and overflowing of rivers vehicles cannot pass. Leaves are appearing and hinder the attack. Each day Ukraine gets more and more weapons and Russian forces have suffered huge losses and low morale.
OBSERVATION - Hard to judge if this assessment is very valid. It does agree with the big concerns over weather/terrain and the morale of the troops, but projecting that on Kremlin thinking may be projecting to much because the decision maker is Putin and he’s painted himself into a corner, needing some sort of military victory to call an end to fighting.

Economic Impacts -
- Moscow Mayor says the withdrawal of foreign companies from the capital has put 200,000 jobs at risk

____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Mild temperatures are forecast thru April 24th with rain continuing in the forecast . Conditions maintained for muddy off road conditions over much of Ukraine .

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
To be better detailed under the Eastern Front (Khariv) discussion, it appears that Ukraine may have taken the Russian initiative for their Donbas offensive away from them by launching a preemptive offensive of their own.

Little to no word out of the Azovstal factory.

Heavy missile and air strikes overnight.

See this link for up dated map of current ground situation.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQWA7HkXsAA2NZk?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Kyiv front -
More missile attacks against industrial areas surrounding the city.

Northern Front (Chernihv region ) -
Nothing significant reported.

North Eastern Front (Konotop - Sumy salient) -
Nothing significant reported.

Eastern (Khariv) front -
Situation in this area has now become highly fluid and dynamic.

Kharkiv and the surrounding areas are faced more heavy shelling overnight.

It is appearing that the Ukranians have launched a preemptive offensive to hit Russian forces before they can get the pieces in place for their Donbas offensive. The Ukrainians are pushing on two axes to encircle the Russian forces in Izyum. One axis going east from Kharkiv cutting the supply routes for Russian forces in Izyum. (I have noted this Russian weakness in previous posts) And another push in a northeastern direction on the eastern side of Izyum salient. Overstretched supply lines getting hammered again and threat of Ukrainian encirclement of Izyum. Just like in the north. Ukraine is preemptively hitting Russia before they can kick off their big offensive.

Izyum is important in that it is a transport hub which makes it easier for the Russians in the NE to link up to forces in the Mariupol direction. This would enable the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Donbas.

Ukrainian military in counter-offensive in Kharkiv region. Liberated Bazalievka, Lebyazhe, partially Kutuzivka
Ukrainian army conducting offensive operation at Kutuzivka, Bairak, and east to Mala Rohan.

The link to the map depicts this action
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQktt2LXEAg4Z9x?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

East of Izyum - Ukrainian army counter-attacking between Kreminna, Rubizhne and Sviatohirsk, Russian troops were pushed several kilometres to North-East.

Map of battles for the east side of Izyum

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQjg3ZHX0AQRPvX?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

As with the fight in the north, I expect the situation to be very fluid over the near term.

South Eastern (Dombas Separatist Region) Front -

Explosions were heard in Dnipro city, reportedly hit somewhere at outskirts Missile strikes in Pavlohrad and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk region as well.

Attacks northward from the separatist region were unsuccessful.

Crimea Front -
Situation remained largely static.
Heavy explosion reported in Kherson airport area

Russian forces are seeking to force the remaining defenders of the Azovstal factory to capitulate through overwhelming firepower to avoid costly clearing operations but remaining Ukrainian defenders appear intent on staging a final stand. It is being reported that the RuAF is dropping FAB-3000, FAB-5000 and FAB-9000J (3000kg, 5000kg And 9000kg respectively) bombs on the facility. Would coencide with footage of TU-22 heavy bombers airborne above the city earlier this morning. Little other word coming out of the area overnight.

Western Ukraine -
Russian missile strikes in L’viv targeted railway infrastructure, no casualties, there will be delays in schedule according to the head of Ukrainian railways, Oleksander Kamyshin
Maksym Kozytsky, the head of Lviv Oblast Military Administration, and Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi reported that missiles struck military facilities and a car tire service point, killing at least six people and wounding eight.

OUTLOOK -
Desperate last stand in Mariupol continues to tie up Russian forces it needs to kick off the southern pincer of the Donbas offensive. Uncertain how long the Ukrainan defenders can hold out, but they’ve lasted about 6 weeks so far. By the time the battle for the city is over, there will only be rubble of the city left and a very pyrrhic ‘victory’ for Russia.

More shocking is the developing Ukrainan offensive in the Khariv front. This is a clear case where the best defense is a good offense, and it appears Ukraine is offending. It has caught the Russians with, once again, a long and exposed logistic trail. It appears that Ukraine is further exploiting Russian low morale in addition to the supply issues of units redeploying to the area from northern Ukraine. Russian forces are increasingly attempting to leverage conscripts and proxy units in Izyum, indicating continuing challenges generating the forces necessary to encircle Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine. Russian units in the Izyum salient are in tough shape being chewed up badly and lack of reinforcement is not helping the matter.

If the Ukranians are able to collapse the Izyum salient, chances for a Russian victory in capturing the Donbas region start dropping to nil. Time is running out for favorable weather/soil conditions as well as the rumored May 9th deadline. At least a dozen BTGs are reportedly in the Izyum salient, a number Russian cant afford to lose if they want the Donbas.
___________________________________

Israel -

Arab-Israeli Raam party ‘suspended’ its participation in the coalition government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
OBSERVATION - This will likely cause parliamentary elections as this small party is what gave Bennett his position. Note, hasn’t pulled their standing, so Bennett’s govt is hanging by a thread.

Situation in Israel and specifically Old Jerusalem and the Temple mount continue to be tense as Ramadan inspired moslem riots and terror attacks continue.

Islamic State on Sunday urged its supporters in Israel to launch additional terror attacks, the first such call since two deadly terror attacks were carried out last month by Arab Israelis thought to have been inspired by the jihadist group.

____________________________________

Iraq -

The military operation was launched by Turkey against the Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn regions of the Federated Kurdistan Region continues on April 14th and has continued. TAF bombed Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn regions with warplanes and howitzers.
_________________________________

Syria -

Sources report Russia halved salaries of the 5th Corps (created & funded by Moscow) in Syria. Now it’s 100$/month. Allegedly a consequence of Ukraine’s invasion.
OBSERVATION - This will trigger some losses and perhaps re affiliation of those forces to someone willing to pay better, like Iran.

After nearly week of Russian air activity over Syria, things have become very quiet on the Russian side again.
__________________________________

Turkey -

See Iraq.
______________________________________

Black Swans -

Active sunspot complex AR2993-94, which unleashed an X1-flare on April 17th, may be just the beginning. NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft is monitoring another potentially large active region right behind it.

Trying to consolidate two days into to one.
________________________________

Wuhan virus -

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa said the CDC failed to follow the proper rule-making and failed to justify the decision. “The Court concludes that the Mask Mandate exceeds the CDC’s statutory authority and violates the procedures required for agency rulemaking under the APA,” Mizelle wrote in her opinion. “Accordingly, the Court vacates the Mandate and remands it to the CDC.”

OBSERVATION - Mixed signals if biden is going to appeal or not. The ruling was almost instantaneously implemented by the TSA. biden caveated any appeal based upon recommendation by the CDC

____________________________

Economy -

A combination of factors has sent corn futures in Chicago to the highest level in a decade as investors fret over dwindling supplies. Corn futures haven’t exceeded $8 a bushel since September 2012, following a devastating drought that damaged crops across the U.S. Midwest. Now supply risks return but for different reasons.
The global outlook for corn supplies has plunged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in late February. The war-torn country supplies a fifth of the world’s corn and could experience a 50% decline in output this year

U.S. natural gas prices surged to the highest level in more than 13 years Monday as Russia’s war on Ukraine causes a global energy crunch and as forecasts called for cooler spring temperatures. Futures jumped 10% to trade as high as $8.05 per million British thermal units, the highest since September 2008. The jump builds on recent strength, with natural gas coming off five straight positive weeks. Prices later retreated slightly, with the contract ending the day 7.12% higher at $7.82.
OBSERVATION - With winter ending and warmer weather coming, the impacts of higher natural gas prices won’t be immediately on forefront due to decreasing demand. However, if they remain at record highs the bite will be big this coming winter.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

Biden considering a delay in eliminating the Title 42 restrictions.
OBSERVATION - At this stage of the border failure, the maintenance of the Title 42 restrictions may not make any difference as a tsunami of illegals will hit the border anyway.

______________________________

Biden / Harris watch -

According to a new Trafalgar/Convention of States poll, 64% of likely American voters believe that President Joe Biden is compromised or conflicted in decisions involving China due to his family’s business dealings with Chinese companies.

___________________________

China -

Videos have emerged on social media revealing the violent response Chinese authorities are taking against residents who break COVID-19 lockdown rules imposed once again in Shanghai and other areas around the country. …residents are beginning to starve under the current lockdowns.

OBSERVATION - The lockdown has also shutdown one of China’s busiest ports, creating another massive shipping clog as vessels are stacked off shore waiting to be loaded and unloaded.
____________________________________

North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

__________________________________

Russia -

WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas starting - Ukraine still stands now entering the second month of the war.

Withdrawing Russian forces have left abundant evidence of mass murder of civilians, rape of women and children and widewpread looting.

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********

Russia rejected an Orthodox Easter ceasefire brokered by the UN.

Russian forces started the long awaited Donbas offensive by attacking Ukrainian positions along the entire 300-mile (480km) front line in the eastern Donbas region. These attacks were preceded by an intensive artillery barrage(s) and airstrikes in a classical Russian big gun tactic. Some analysts who’ve been pretty spot on so far in this war indicate that Russia has rushed their preparations and execution of this offensive. The Russians appear to be still building logistics and command-and-control capabilities even as they start the next round of major fighting. This may be setting the stage for the same level of C& C and logistical failures experienced in the north.

Two main axis of attack are becoming clarified. One southwest from Izyum/Kreminna and the second from Donetsk City to the north even as they push west from Popasna and positions north of Severodonetsk. Many assess that even if the Russians did complete such an encirclement and trapped a large concentration of Ukrainian forces inside one or more pockets, the Ukrainian defenders would likely be able to hold out for a considerable period and might well be able to break out.

Much discussion on how many BTGs Russia has available for this new offensive. From an estimated 120 BTGs at the start, US estimates 98 remain, about 80% and 22 of the 98 are still being refit/rebuilt outside of Ukraine. Of those 98, only From documented Russian equipment losses by tanks alone the BTGs would be at about 56%. By personnel loss estimates, 40,000 dead/wounded, 66%. So the raw number of BTGs remaining available may be functionally less due to losses.

Time will tell if the May 9th deadline is legit or supposed.

More details under Ukraine fronts below

RUMINT -
“Insiders” report putin is increasingly isolated and cornered by the failures of the Ukraine operation. While publically Moscow is rejecting the use of nukes against Ukraine, these insiders are saying that putin considers them to still be on the table for use.

Logistics -
- The US believes there are now 76 Russian battalion tactical groups in the Donbas region of Ukraine and in the country’s southeast. About 11 of those were added over the last several days. About a dozen of those inside Ukraine are trying to take Mariupol. Besides the 76 BTGs, there are about 22 BTGs north of Ukraine that are likely being resupplied and refitted, the official said.
- Russia is now visually confirmed to have lost more than 3300 vehicles and other pieces of (heavy) military equipment since it began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Tanks (521, of which destroyed: 263, damaged: 10, abandoned: 39, captured: 209)
- Russian MoD video showing Bal coastal defense systems launching Kh-35 missiles at targets in Ukraine. This is a subsonic anti-ship missile with, apparently, a land-attack mode. Kh-35 has an armour-penetrator warhead. It’s designed to cut through the steel of a ships hull. Its use has raised more questions of the availability of larger land attack systems.
- Noted in a previous report, Russian Grad-1s from 1950s are being shipped to the front. These are shorter ranged, smaller size rockets than are being currently used.

Russian Personnel Issues -
- Russia still having difficulties getting people to sign up to fight in Ukraine. According to some reports Russia has suffered significant personnel losses. To boost their numbers they reportedly have dropped their standards and allow 3-month contracts but this has not brought in replacements.
- Interesting take on “Moskva” casualties in the UK Guardian. Looks like they estimate around 200 dead, 200 injured and 100 survived...
- Capt. 3rd rank Alexander Grigoryevich Chirva from Sevastopol. Commander of the large landing ship “Caesar Kunikov” has died of his wounds. “Caesar Kunikov” was one of the LSTs forced to flee Berdiansk when “Saratov” blew up.
- Colonel Mikhail Nagamov was reportedly the commander of an engineer-sapper regiment, was killed in Ukraine on April 13.

Economic Impacts -
- Greece has seized a Russian oil tanker off the island of Evia as part of European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, the Greek coast guard said on Tuesday
- Sanctions have south down Russian military factories due to lack of parts.

____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Continued rain/showers over much of the next 10 day period. Conditions maintained for muddy off road conditions over much of Ukraine .

RUMINT -

24 HOUR ROUND UP -

Ukraine has weathered the first day+ of the Russian offensive. Tuesday’s clashes showed that Ukraine’s forces are still able to hold firm, and Russia made very little gains on the ground.

Russia made another demand that the defenders of Azovstal complex in Mariupol, surrender. However, the Russian deadline has passed as of this writing with no surrender.

Reminder that the situation has once again become very fluid and can change rapidly.

See this link for up dated map of current ground situation.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQWA7HkXsAA2NZk?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Ukraine has been receiving increasingly amounts of military supplies and equipment, including more modern systems and Ukrainian personnel are receiving training on them. Further info that external support is coming in to get more Ukrainan aircraft in the sky.

Kyiv front -
Russian President Vladimir Putin bestowed an honorary title on the 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade – the military unit accused of committing war crimes in Bucha, Ukraine.

Northern Front (Chernihv region ) -
Nothing significant reported.

North Eastern Front (Konotop - Sumy salient) -
Nothing significant reported.

Eastern (Khariv) front -
Situation in this area has now become highly fluid and dynamic.

Kharkiv and the surrounding areas are faced more heavy shelling overnight. Most of the Russia efforts are being concentrated between Izyum and Popasna to the south. Ukrainan forces continue to put pressure on the west flank of the Izyum salient in the vicinity of Khariv.

East of Izyum - Russian forces were able to gain control of the village of Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast, east of Izyum. Battles in this region are being hotly contested by Ukraine and control of some territory is locally seesawing. Russian artillery fire continued to target Popasna, Rubizhe, Lysychansk, and Severodonetsk and shell various settlements in Donetsk Oblast over the last 24 hours.

Ukrainian forces reportedly repelled attempted Russian advances into Avdiivka, Popasna, and Rubizhne on the night of April 18. Unconfirmed sources claimed that Russian troops entered Torske in order to encircle Ukrainian positions in Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, and Rubizhne,

The Ukrainian army’s 3rd Tank Brigade reportedly has reached the battlefield around Izium. The 3rd might be the first of Kyiv’s reserve armored formations to join the fight.

Map of battles for the east side of Izyum

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQjg3ZHX0AQRPvX?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

As with the fight in the north, I expect the situation to be very fluid over the near term.

South Eastern (Dombas Separatist Region) Front -

Russia gave the defenders at Azovstal complex in Mariupol a second order to surrender, deadline has already past. Unknown how much longer the defenders can hold out.
Russians dropped a bomb on the hospital near Azovstal. Local reports that the explosion was heard as far as 60 KM away. Several hundred civilians with children were reportedly taking refuge there.

It has been visually confirmed that in addition to Tu-22M “BACKFIRE” bombers, Tu-95 “BEAR” Long-Range Strategic Bombers are being used against Mariupol dropping massive bombs on the Azovstal facility. These planes are equipped to drop FAB-3000, FAB-5000 and FAB-9000J (3000kg, 5000kg And 9000kg respectively)

According to Mariupol town council, Russians are holding approx. 27,000 of Ukrainians in filtration camps now

Elsewhere, major artillery fires along the LOC but no significant Russia advances.

Crimea Front -
Heavy large-caliber shelling reported at Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. Reports of a limited Russian counter attack outside Oleksandrivka.

Other reports that Russian units are concentrating in Polohy, central Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian forces may intend to stop Ukrainian counteroffensives in this area or could be planning a more ambitious advance to reach the N15 highway running east from Zaporizhia City.

Western Ukraine -
Nothing significant to report.

OUTLOOK -
BLUF - Ukraine will likely give up some terrain, very begrudgingly, to Russian forces over the course of the next days/weeks but that so far Russia hasn’t shown that they’ve made any significant changes to tactics and logistics that stalled their attacks in the north. Weather conditions are deteriorating over the short term, limiting Russian maneuverability and flexibility on the battle field.

Russia has concentrated forces in eastern Ukraine and have kicked off their offensive. The biggest questions outstanding are have they learned from their tactical and logistical mistakes in the north. Evidence so far is that they haven’t and that they have failed to fully make logistical and C2 preparations necessary for another complex and demanding operation.

The fluid nature of the combat over the course of the next week will provide clarification of Russian goals/success and Ukrainan tenacity. So here’s my best educated guesses.

Russian forces will likely continue attacking southeast from Izyum, west from Kreminna and Popasna, and north from Donetsk City via Avdiivka. Those pushes will be hampered by deteriorating weather conditions that will further soften the ground and make many areas impassable - forcing Russian forces onto the local road network where they are exposed to being destroyed in pieces. It seems that with the Russian concentration of forces that they intend to eventually overwhelm Ukrainian defenses by numbers.

Russian forces will face logistical interdiction from Ukraine artillery and troops on the western side of the Izyum salient - probably one of the weakest parts of the offensive. This may force Russia to divert critical BTGs to defend against being cut off as happened in the north.

Rearming and supplying the Ukraine effort has ramped up significantly in the days prior to the start of the Russian offensive. How much and how quickly can these supplies get to the front line. So far it appears that the resupply efforts are still ahead of the power curve and that Russia is more focused on the Dombas operation than interdiction at the moment. They apparently don’t have the assets to do both. Rumblings of a reinforced/reborn Ukraine air force may be a game changer to further contest Russian air power. Longer range artillery assets and heavier firepower will come in good for Ukraine too.

The defense of the Azovstal complex in Mariupol will continue but for how long? When it falls it could free up to 12 BTGs to fight in other parts of the country according to a senior U.S. defense official. If the May 9th ‘deadline’ is valid, Russia will become increasingly desperate to force the surrender of its defenders and likely step up the use of heavy bombing ordinance and perhaps even the use of chemical munitions. The underground complex are reinforced concrete and deep/multilayered. The Russian ‘bunker busters’ may insufficient to take it out, raising the prospect for the deployment of chemical munitions. The defenders could hole up there and pop up to strike Russian elements unawares.
___________________________________

Pakistan -
Tensions building between Pakistan and Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Pakistan said on Sunday said incidents of its security forces being targeted in cross-border attacks from Afghanistan had risen significantly, and called on Taliban authorities to act against militants, a day after purported air strikes by Pakistan.
The incident has increased already simmering tensions between the neighbours. Taliban authorities on Saturday summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul on Saturday to protest against the strikes. A local Taliban official and residents said the strikes were carried out by Pakistani aircraft inside Afghan airspace.
___________________________________

Israel -

1 rocket fired from the Gaza Strip was intercepted according to the IDF. In response, Israeli defense forces struck numerous positions and a weapon production facility belonging to Hamas

Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed they launched anti-air missiles at Israeli jets over the Gaza Strip and Hamas reportedly launched several anti-aircraft missiles (likely Strela-2s) at IDF aircraft. Doesn’t seem like any hit.

OBSERVATION - This appears to be the most significant attempt to deter IAF strikes with manpads missile systems. They have reportedly been used in the past, but not to this extent.

____________________________________

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan -

See Pakistan above.

While I haven’t noted it here, ISIS has been giving the Taliban a big head ache with numerous, almost daily, terror strikes throughout the country.
___________________________________